The north inner city needs more bars and restaurants to convince shoppers to stay on that side of the Liffey, it has been claimed.

Business organisation Dubin Town said the area needs a hub similar to the Creative Quarter on the southside.

This comes after a Red C poll revealed consumers don't hang around the area after shops close.

Spokesman for Dublin Town, Richard Guiney told the Irish Times: "The research has told us that people coming into the north side of the city to shop, also want to socialise.

"They see the existing food offerings as functional and indoors, such as cafes in shopping centres, and they would like more restaurants and cafes facing on to the street, potentially with tables outside.

"People like the area during the day, and retail is strong with Henry Street in particular seen as a premier shopping destination, but the area lacks a night-time offering to keep people there beyond day-time shopping.

"We need to encourage more business in, to show them that there is a market, that there are premises available, and that rents are cheaper.

"After all, it’s the centre of town, we’re not asking them to go to Alaska."